- The upgrade of the old Lwandle hostels, built to house migrant workers during the apartheid era, got underway last week, and the work is expected to be finalised next week, on Friday 8 December.
- Built in the 1950s, the hostels have since been turned into family units. However, their condition had deteriorated over the years, making them uninhabitable.
- At least 41 blocks are earmarked for the facelift and to bring a festive cheer to their residents.
The upgrade of the old Lwandle hostels, built to house migrant workers during the apartheid era, got underway last week, and the work is expected to be finalised next week, on Friday 8 December.
Built in the 1950s, the hostels have since been turned into family units. However, their condition had deteriorated over the years, making them uninhabitable.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso stated the upgrades were designed to improve the residents’ health and living conditions.
At least 41 blocks are earmarked for the facelift and to bring a festive cheer to their residents.
Diniso said the oldest hostels were being targeted. “This is a national campaign spearheaded by the Department of Human Settlement,” he said. “We are changing all the hostels that have asbestos roofs. We are also changing the ceiling because there is no way we can change the roof and leave the ceiling intact.”
Diniso added that according to an investigation conducted by the department into the hostels’ condition many residents were suffering from tuberculosis because of the asbestos material.
He pleaded with the community to stay away from the constructors, citing risks associated with dust from the asbestos.
One of the beneficiaries of the project, Nobantu Manqana, thanked the councillor for doing a great job. She said she had been staying there for over 25 years.
“It was bad when it was windy because the dust would fall. My second-born has asthma because of the dust.” Manqana added the ceiling of her hostel was damaged. She appealed to the government to cement the hostels, which are cold in winter.